Persistence in Prayer May 7, 2013

From Streams in the Dessert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings by L. B. Cowman

May 7

Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)

The failure to preserve is the most common problem in prayer and intercession. We begin to pray for something, raising our petitions for a day, a week, or even a month, but then if we have not received a definite answer, we quickly give up and stop praying for it altogether.

This is a mistake with deadly consequences and is simply a trap where we begin many things but never see them completed. It leads to ruin in every area of life. People who get into the habit of starting without ever finishing form the habit of failure. And those who begin praying about something without ever praying it through to a successful conclusion form the same habit in prayer. Giving up is admitting failure and defeat. Defeat then leads to discouragement and doubt in the power of prayer, and that is fatal to the success of a person’s prayer life.

People often ask, “How long should I pray? Shouldn’t I come to the place where I stop praying and leave the matter in God’s hands?” The only answer is this: Pray until what you pray for has been accomplished or until you have complete assurance in your heart that it will be. Only when one of these two conditions has been met is it safe to stop persisting in prayer, for prayer not only is calling upon God but is also a battle with Satan. And because God uses our intercession as a mighty weapon of victory in the conlict, He alone must decide when it is safe to cease from petitioning. Therefore we dare not stop praying until either the answer itself has come or we receive assurance it will come.

In the first instance, we stop because we actually see the answer. In the second, we stop because we believe, and faith in our hearts is as trustworthy as the sight of our eyes, for it is “faith from God” (Eph. 6:23) and the “faith of God” (Rom. 3:3 KJV) that we have within us.

As we live a life of prayer, we will more and more come to experience and recognize this God-given assurance. We will know when to quietly rest in it or when to continue praying until we receive His answer. from The Practice of Prayer

Wait at God’s promise until He meets you there, for He always returns by the path of His promises. selected

I did not really understand growing up how important prayer is in life. Until I met my husband, I rarely prayed. When I did pray it was one of those emergency prayers when something wasn’t going my way.

Recently it was revealed to me that in order to have a relationwhip with God, prayer is a must. A life without prayer is not an option. We are especially called to pray for others. I think that it’s important to do whatever we can to ensure that prayer becomes a habit for us in our lives. It’s important for us to pray casually throughout the day and for us to set aside time for intense, intimate prayer time with God. And when prayer becomes a natural part of our day, we will wonder what we ever did without prayer.

I challenge anyone who reads this to pick something specific, no matter how big, to pray about. Pray for it every day until you have an answer.

-TMS

Liberty on the Abyss of the Gospel May 6, 2013

Cover of My Utmost for His Highest

From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

May 6

Liberty on the Abyss of the Gospel

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. Galations 5:1

A spiritually minded man will never come to you with the demand – “Believe this and that”; but with the demand that you square your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One Whom the Bible reveals (cf. John 5:39-40). We are called to present  liberty of conscience, not liberty of view. If we are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty – the liberty of realizing the dominance of Jesus Christ.

Always keep your life measured by the standards of Jesus. Bow your neck to His yoke alone, and  to no other yoke whatever; and be careful to see that you never bind a yoke on others that is not placed by Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us out of the way of thinking that unless everyone sees as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one liberty, the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.

Don’t get impatient, remember how God dealt with you – with patience and with gentleness; but never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples,” not “make converts to your opinions.”

This is already so perfectly said but I will try to simplify it even further. We shouldn’t consume ourselves with things that don’t matter. We should follow the example of Jesus. By following the example of Jesus, we are setting an example for others who don’t know Jesus. And always stay true to the Word of God. Pretty simple, huh?

I won’t overcomplicate this any further because I think it’s so beautifully put.

-TMS

 

The Path of Peace May 1, 2013

From Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young

May 1

You are on the path of My choosing. There is no randomness about your life. Here and Now comprise the coordinates of your daily life. Most people let their moments slip through their fingers, half-lived. They avoid the present by worrying about the future or longing for a better time and place. They forget that they are creatures who are subject to the limitations of time and space. They forget their Creator, who walks with them only in the present.

Every moment is alive with My glorious Presence, to those whose hearts are intimately connected with Mine. As you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find that you simply have no time for worry. Thus, you are freed to let My Spirit direct your steps, enabling you to walk along the path of Peace.

Luke 12:25-26; Luke 1:79

Imagine a scene from a movie, downtown New York City, hundreds of people walking on the street. For every single person on that street, there is no randomness. God knows exactly what path each and every one of those people are on. God knows what path you and I are on! Today was one of those days when I would have preferred to be in another time or place. My son wasn’t feeling well and I pretty much spent the day in my chair with him laying on my chest. I couldn’t wait for my husband to get home from work and share the burden of a sick child with me. Instead of dreading my situation, I should have cherished each moment in the presence of our Creator.

I just love, love, love Jesus Calling. I was given a copy of this devotional last December by a dear friend of mine, Vera. I sometimes call this blog my “devotional project” and I keep stacks and stacks of devotionals in my office next to my computer. But Jesus Calling is the one I keep on my nightstand.

I think that reading Jesus Calling has produced more spiritual growth in me than any other book or devotional (besides the Bible of course). I highly recommend it.

-TMS

Disharmony April 29, 2013

Cover of God Calling

From God Calling by A. J. Russell

April 29

Disharmony

Seek and ye shall find. Shall find that inner knowledge that makes the problems of life plain.

The difficulty of life is caused by disharmony in the individual. There is no discord in My Kingdom, only a something unconquered in My disciples. The rule of My Kingdom is perfect order, perfect harmony, perfect supply, perfect love, perfect honesty, perfect obedience – all power, all conquest, all success.

But so often My servants lack power, conquest, success, supply, harmony, and think I fail in My promises because these are not manifested in their lives.

These are but the outward manifestations that result from the obedience, honesty, order, love – and they come, not in answer to urgent prayer, but naturally as lifht results from a lighted candle.

I never lack feelings of peace and beauty when reading from God Calling. This message is so simple yet so profound. There is no disharmony in God’s Kingdom! Disharmony is something we created ourselves; it’s not from God. Seeking God is seeking harmony.

-TMS

The Great All April 13, 2013

From I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God by Charles F. Stanley

April 13

The Great All

Scrpture Reading: Hebrews 11:1-6
Key Verse: Hebrews 11:6

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

A. W. Tozer underscored the vital necessity of reckoning with the unseen reality of God and His power:

The spiritual is real… We must shift our interest from the seen to the unseen. For the great unseen reality is God. “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6 KJV). This is basic in the life of faith.
Every man must choose his world… As we begin to focus on God, the things of the Spirit will take shape before our inner eyes.
Obedience to the Word of Christ will bring an inward revelation of the Godhead (John 14:21-23).
A new God-consciousness will seize upon us, and we shall begin to taste and hear and inwardly feel the God Who is our life and our all.
More and more, as our faculties grow sharper and more sure, God will become to us the great All and His Presence the glory and wonder of our lives.

Tozer concluded with this prayer. Lift it as your own today:

Dear Lord, open my eyes that I may see; give me acute spiritual perception; enable me to taste Thee and know that Thou art good. Make heaven more real to methan any earthly thing has ever been.

Faith did not always come easy for me. For quite some time my faith was forced. I noticed it coming easily to others and I desired that effortless way that others turned to God for every little thing in their lives. I always tried to work things out myself and then after many failed attempts, I would finally call on God. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. One day it dawned on me that the underlying problem was that I was filled with doubt. God blessed me by allowing me to identify the problem. From that point on, I prayed daily for faith. I can’t tell you the exact moment that I changed but I eventually noticed that I had become one of those people who seemed to naturally live in their faith.

Without God I could not have had my faith but without faith I could not have God. I don’t really understand exactly which one I really had first but I’m so grateful that I found both of them, whichever one lead me to the other.

-TMS

Love Hung on a Cross April 11, 2013

From Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado

April 11 : Morning

Love Hung on a Cross

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. John 3:16

He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.
Men clad in soldier’s garb sat on the ground near the trio…
Women in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill, … faces tear-streaked.
All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.
“It must be done…” he said, and withdrew.
The angel spoke again. “It would be less painful…”
The Creator interrupted softly. “But it wouldn’t be love.”

Imagine this conversation taking place between our Creator and his angel. It must have been such a difficult decision – but it was the only way. Jesus died a terrible death so that we could be forgiven for our sins. A TERRIBLE death! I think many Christians get it and we are mindful of this when we are tempted by our fleshly desires, from silly gossip all the way to the most heinous sins imaginable, Jesus suffered so we didn’t have to.

Yet there are some who don’t get it. Some of us have heard the Good News and continue on our wicked ways. Our Creator gave us His Son and some of us give back wickedness. I can only pray that we all truly understand what is laid out in front of us for the taking.

-TMS

Never Too Late April 2, 2013

This devotional is from Beth Moore’s Praying God’s Word Day by Day: A Year of Devotional Prayer. I recently discovered Beth Moore, thanks to a very special mother figure in my life, and reading Moore’s works has helped me in my struggles with insecurity. I think she is a wonderful source of spiritual guidance, especially for women.

April 2

EVEN IF I BLOW IT, I CAN CHOOSE TO FOLLOW HIM THE REST OF THE WAY. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START FOLLOWING HIS LEAD IN A CRISIS.

Lord God, I desire to claim the words Moses delivered to Your ancient people: Help me not to be afraid. Enable me to stand firm so I will see the deliverance that You, Lord will bring me today.

You, Lord, will fight for me; help me only to be still (Exod, 14:13-14).

Father, God, make me strong and courageous. Help me not to be afraid or terrified because of anyone else, for You go with me Lord God. You will never leave me or forsake me (Deut. 31:6).

How I thank You for the assurance that You will not reject Your people. You will never forsake Your inheritance (Ps. 94:14).

I need to be reminded that when I fail, it’ll somehow be okay. This is not an excuse to fail but motivation to pick up the peices and keep moving through life. If I’m on a diet and I succumb to temptation, I’m usually overcome with guilt as a result. It’s not uncommon for my guilt to lead me to fall further from my path. The words, “EVEN IF I BLOW IT, I CAN CHOOSE TO FOLLOW HIM THE REST OF THE WAY” are what I need to know and believe. They are words I need to live by to stay on the path I have chosen for myself, not only in my struggle for a beautiful body but also a beautiful mind, heart and soul.

-TMS

God’s Name April 1, 2013

From Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado

April 1 : Evening

God’s Name

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. -Psalm 23:1

“You want to know who God really is?” David asks. “Then read this.” And he writes the name Yahweh. “Yahweh is my shepherd.”

Though foreign to us, the name was rich to David. So rich, in fact, that David chose Yahweh over El Shaddai (God Almighty), El Elyon (God Most High), and El Olam (God Everlasting). These and many other titles for God were at David’s disposal. But when he considered all the options, David chose Yahweh.

Why Yahweh? Because Yahweh is God’s name. You can call me preacher or writer or half-baked golfer – these are accurate descriptions, but these aren’t my names. I might call you dad, mom, doctor, or student, and those terms might describe you, but they aren’t your name. If you want to call me by my name, say Max. If I call you by your name, I say it. And if you want to call God by his name, say Yahweh.

I think the message here is quite simple. God wants to be on a first name basis with us. This something kind of new to me. The concept of being “friends” with God didn’t really hit me until about ten years ago and even then it wasn’t something that happened right away no matter how bad I wanted it. I’m not real sure when exactly it happened that I transitioned from someone trying to attain a relationship with Him to someone who has a relationship with

Easter Sunday March 31, 2013

From Jesus Calling

March 31

Taste and see that I am good. The more intimately you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness. I am the Living One who sees you and longs to participate in your life. I am training you to find Me in each moment and to be a channel of My loving Presence. Sometimes My blessings come to you in mysterious ways: through pain and trouble. At such times you can know My goodness only through your trust in Me. Understanding will fail you, but trust will keep you close to Me.

Thank Me for the gift of My Peace, a gift of such immense proportions that you cannot fathom its depth or breadth. When I appeared to My disciples after my ressurrection, it was peace that I communicated first of all. I knew this was their deepest need: to calm their fears and clear their minds. I also speak Peace to you, for I know your anxious thoughts. Listen to Me! Tune out other voices, so that you can hear Me more clearly. I designed you to dwell in Peace all day, every day. Draw near to Me, receive My Peace.

Psalm 34:8; Genesis 16:13-14 (AMP); John 20:19; Colossians 3:15

When I read Jesus Calling I can feel the presence of Jesus as if He is speaking directly to me through pages of the book. I hear His peaceful voice and I feel His gentle and commanding presence. What I am struck with as I read this particular passage is that Jesus longs for us to seek His closeness. I love how this devotional entry mentions the ressurrection of Christ as it (the entry) happens to fall on Easter this year.

He is risen!

-TMS